The House of Representatives on Wednesday called for urgent release of funds for Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) corrective centres in order to save lives of over 800,000 adolescent girls who suffer from the health disorder across the country.
In the bid to ensure sustainable means of livelihood for the victims, the House urged Federal Government to give special consideration to the VVF patients including them into the N-Power Scheme to enable them recover from the low self esteem.
According to the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) 2008, adolescent marriage is highest in the North West with 76%; followed by 68% in the North East; 35% in the North Central; 18% in the South-South; 17% in the South West and 10% in the South East.
The resolution was passed and adopted by the House after the debate on a motion of matter of urgent public importance sponsored by Aishatu Dukku (APC-Gombe) and Abdullahi Salame (APC-Sokoto).
In her lead debate, Dukku noted that over 800,000 Nigerian women and girls live with the despicable disease which is often caused by obstructed labour, poverty and women’s limited control over the use of family resources.
According to the lawmaker, the VVF patients are often abandoned by their husbands and relatives, adding that they are left in isolation from their communities due to smell and associated shame of urine leakage.
While noting that effective surgical techniques for Fistula repair are available in some localities, the lawmaker stressed the need to expand the reach to those in need especially in the rural communities.
Contributing to the debate, Betty Apiafi (PDP-Rivers) and Nkiruika Onyejeocha (PDP-Abia) harped on the need for the enactment of law to criminalize men who impregnate young girls under the ages of 12-13 and discriminate against these patients.
To this regard, the House mandated its committee on Healthcare Services to monitor compliance.
KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja
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